APICS NEWS. APICS released the first offering of the Certified Supply Chain Professional user materials in December of 2004. The 4 books comprising the new CSCP offering cover the supply chain materials in depth. The program is a self study of the supply chain from ERP through logistics and technology associated with the supply chain. The program will have an instructor led education that will encompass at least 8 weeks of study and is planned with the LIMA area for sometime early in APRIL. The first testing is in March however it is suggested that those planning this study wait for the instruction led materials as the there are benefits from having help in getting to the internet for the online dictionary, the study guide, and the monitoring available. The next testing after March will be in June and then again in the Fall, possibly in December. For more information on the CSCP offering from the APICS Society refer to the web site at: http://www.apics.org/certification/CSCP/default.htm APICS, in an effort to reduce costs has made a number of cut backs. More specifically they have cut back the REGIONAL meeting budgets and Region III is now planning two meetings per year down from the four previously planned. The society membership is down to under 50,000 members from a high in the mid nineties of about 70,000 members. Along with the Society membership the membership of chapters has dropped and the Lima chapter is down to 62 members. APICS has currently certified as CPIM or CFPIM over 80,000 professionals plus an additional 4,000 with CIRM. APICS first introduced the CPIM course in 1974 to equip professionals in the field with the credentials and training to improve their companies and advance their own professional potential. In conjunction with the Springfield, Mass. Chapter we offer the following online editorials on business and other subjects that would be of interest to our membership. Some articles are provided by IRA SMOLOWITZ, PH.D. who is Professor of Finance and Dean, Bureau of Business Research and Program Development at the American International College, in Springfield, MA. Please log onto their site as follows and view their offerings: http://www.wmass-apics.com/editorials.html For more information on the Lima chapter please see the chapter news letter or contact a member of the Lima chapter board of directors. Charles H. King, CFPIM, CIRM President